I thank you to the members of the many National Guard band under the direction of
acting First Sergeant Jonathan Richards for providing us with such beautiful music
. Now would you all please stand if able as the colors of Posted by the Maine
National Guard color guard.
And. And.
Move.
With with.
With.
Who's.
With.
Us. Now.
Please be seated My name is Captain Dave Soulive and I have the most humbling and
distinct honor of acting as master of ceremonies on this all solemn occasion in
this capacity and on behalf of the committee that organized this ceremony we
sincerely welcome you all to the mid coast area Veterans Memorial dedication the
reason I am dressed in this manner will be made readily apparent later on in the
program now in the next few minutes we're going to pause
here I want you to train your eyes to the skies and back of me to the east.
Specially arranged we are going to have
a fly over. Of World War two aircraft thanks to the good
people at the Texas flying legends museum now in their own words this
salute is done in on are all veterans past and present to
remind everyone that freedom is not free now the planes that you'll be seeing the
participating aircraft include a P. Fifty one B.
Mustang that the legends call little horse and F.G. One D.
Course a year that the legends call whistling death and a P.
Forty Warhawk that the legends call ocean time now we sincerely thank these people
for providing us with such
a unique and soul stirring tribute to our veterans I have pretty good ears and I
can hear those guys out there somewhere where they come. Back.
Thank you
Judy back of me.
Pretty impressive Thanks Guy Would you please stand for the ending in vocation
conducted by the chaplain for the U.S.
Coast Guard first District second North lieutenant Lieutenant Commander Michael
Griggs and thank you
my reproach Almighty God The beauty of your creation envelops
us as we enjoy your presence here today. Thank you for offering us but being here
we are thankful for so many people that have answered your calling upon their lives
by becoming
a person of military service the joint effort that is making this event unfold
symbolizes the greatness of effort every branch of the military has exerted to make
America the greatest of nations it is today help us make honoring those of
Ultimate Sacrifice
a way of life and as always we pray for wisdom from the Rock of Ages for our
leaders from the greatest to the least we ask for strength and safety for deployed
members in harm's way and the wives children family and friends that are left on
our shores of security and plenty here
a lot of wounds forgive our sins lift us up unite us with one mighty
voice give us grace for faithfulness as we journey until we have the wonder of
seeing you face to face thank you for all of us both great and small and the
name of our strongest We prayed in.
Thank you before we get to the introductions I'm going to ask
a favor of the veterans here in attendance for you veterans in the audience would
you please stand and be recognized as the National Guard band plays your services
anthem and remain standing throughout the playing of the anthems for
a five uniform service branches if you don't feel like standing
we all understand it's been
a long hot day and it's going to get get longer but please. Raise your hand so that
we can see who you are.
THANK YOU THANK YOU EVER I'm going to ask
one gentleman. At least to me and we will
we are on it do you have with us Mr Walter Ritchie of union mean this to rich.
Nineteen forty four. He was hailed as
a prisoner of war. Returned home he married
a sweetheart his lovely wife Barbara who was with him tonight when they would
bar you please stand up to THANK YOU THANK
YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU
VERY MUCH. I now have the honor of
introducing seven fine Americans who are currently on the job protecting our
freedoms and our American way of life representing the United States Navy in the
splendid high tech beautiful vessel currently gracing our harbor the U.S.S.
San Antonio our commanding officer Commander Neil
a quid pro ski and command master chief Michael Hart gallantly THANK YOU
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU It is also
appropriate we here in the city of Iraq when one of only nine designated Coast
Guard cities in the entire country also recognized members of the local Coast Guard
commands with us we have the executive officer of the U.S.
Coast Guard cutter Thunder Bay Lieutenant J.G.
Brian Kilcoyne. Thank
you you thank. The officer in charge of the U.S.
Coast Guard Marine Safety detachment in Belfast Anson Eric Hatfield The
Thank You The commanding officer of the U.S.
Coast Guard station Rockland Chief Warrant Officer Bastion arms doth
thank you the commanding officer of the U.S.
Coast Guard cutter Eddie Burgess Chief Warrant Officer John who are thank
you and the officer in charge of the U.S.
Coast Guard cutter tackle bosun's mate Chief Mark Moore thank
you gentlemen thank you all for your service and for on ring us with your presence
we really appreciate you being here now before we get to our featured speakers I
must tell you that the unique and dramatic monument that you see before you is
being dedicated to all veterans without regard to branch of service length of
service era of service or rank attained it is being dedicated in order to recognize
veterans who have served this great country from its founding to the present day
and also for those brave patriots who in the future will answer their country's
call this having been said I would ask that the most senior Veterans those members
of what has been appropriately called America's greatest generation would do World
War two vets. Police stand if able or wave your hand and be recognized Thank you I
met
a number that you want to thank you thank you thank you. Thank
you thank you very very much we love having you here some of
these gentlemen I've known since I was
a little kid now were not Korean War veterans also stand and be recognized it has
been sixty years since you came home to
it.
Thank you long overdue welcome home and thank you
do the many Viet Nam era veterans that I see in this audience. Please stand and be
recognized THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU all through
the seemingly endless and thankless Cold War to also stand and be recognized along
with the veterans of more recent conflicts such as Panama Grenada the Gulf War
operations Del Desert Storm Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom and our actions in
Afghanistan would you please stand or raise your hand
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU
honored guests ladies and gentlemen veterans I am here representing
a group of veterans who are no longer able to speak for themselves the Civil War
veterans in particular I am referring to
a group of young men who answered to countries call in the spring of eight hundred
sixty one on this very spot of land the patriotic fervor to preserve the Union
which was then spreading across the country and throughout our great pine tree
state of Maine resulted in great numbers of volunteers citizen soldiers clamoring
to answer President Lincoln's call to quell the rebellion this lovely spot where we
are standing and sitting today became a rendezvous point for just such
a group of Midcoast area Patriots gathering here on May eighteenth
sixty one the surrounding fields became Camp Knox in on or of General Henry knocks
the famed tailoress of the American Revolution and one of this area's leading
citizens after the revolution. It is interesting to note that wherever the fourth
man went into camp through the three long years of service they christened their
camps Camp KNOX They were proud of their origins and they took every opportunity to
display this pride of the thousand or so brave young souls who encamped here and to
form what became the fourth main regiment of Volunteer Infantry there were four
companies recruited from Rockland and the Knox County towns two companies from
Belfast and one each from winter poit Searsport Wiscasset endeavor SCADA the damask
auto company should be noted was known by the very martial sounding title of the
dam or Scottish granite rifles early local newspaper accounts praised the
organization of the camp and the professional bearing of the elected offices chosen
to command the regiment was
a man directly responsible for the recruitment of the Rockman companies
a local businessman contractor and former mayor named Hiram Gregory Barry Barrett
was respected and loved by all who served on D.M.
It is recorded that his death at the Battle of Chancellorsville while serving as
a major general General Joseph hooka then in command of the Army of the Potomac to
tears no higher ranking officer was killed in battle during that war after
a few short weeks of training in the basics of military drill and etiquette the
fourth main was mustered into service and on June fifteenth eighteen sixty one of
mustard into service on June sixth fifteenth eight hundred sixty one on June
seventeenth they broke camp and march down from this hill through the city Iraq
wind along their route they were cheered and praised as Best wishes from friends
and neighbors who shouted their way in order to encourage them and bore this spirit
. No one in the regiment nor anyone in the crowds lining the streets for that
matter had any idea of the horrors that these brave young souls would be exposed to
over the next one thousand days that was so critical to American history this brave
group proudly carrying mess move boy Springfield model eight hundred forty two
muskets was met when they got to Main Street by the famed Rockland city man dressed
in their splendid uniforms the Rockland band who would accompany the soldiers all
the way to Washington the procession continued to the Atlantic war by following
a street now known as Tilson Avenue which by the way is named for another one of
Rockland civil war heroes the one legged General Davis Tilson carried at the head
of the column was
a large white band of which read from the home of Knox Additionally the unit
received a small
a silk flag that bore the Maine state seal without States motto dear ago I lead
prominently displayed at the Atlantic war the fourth Maine boarded the steam of
Daniel Webster after
a few more rousing speeches and cheers the Daniel Webster carried the soldiers on
to Poland Boston New York and then to Washington from this point their brave
deeds on the battlefields of Virginia starting at the First Battle of Bull Run
where they stubbornly held their ground as chaos reigned around them and thus
allowed hundreds of soldiers from Sister units to escape annihilation the men of
Knox found themselves continually being thrown into the breach in some of the
fiercest fighting of the war. These fighting Tigers as they were sometimes called
fought prominently in such engagements as Yorktown Williamsburg Seven Pines Gaines
mill Why no swamp Malvern Hill Second Bull Run Chantilly Fredericksburg
Chancellorsville Gettysburg walking Heights Kelly's Ford mine run wilderness
Spotsylvania pole river north and the total pardon me and Cold Harbor they also
fought in countless small unnamed skirmishes in between these major engagements the
net results of this bravery became readily apparent when the remnants of the once
mighty force may regiment of Volunteer Infantry marched back through Rockland upon
their expiration of service on June twenty fifth eight hundred sixty four
a mere thirteen offices and one hundred thirty two enlisted men were all that
remained from the nine hundred ninety six that boarded the Daniel Webster the city
received these men is Heroes buildings were decorated speeches made that pay was
issued and a bounty of one hundred dollars was given to each survivor
a large feast was prepared at the Atlantic Hall in on or of these returning heroes
during the course of the war ten additional offices and five hundred thirteen
soldiers were added to the rolls of the fourth main as replacements thus giving
a total of one thousand five hundred twenty five individuals in rolled in the unit
during the war. In addition to soldiers discharge various non-specified reasons
reasons the fourth Maine lost fourteen offices and one hundred fifty six men killed
on mortally wounded on the field of battle one hundred fourteen died of disease two
offices and thirty seven privates were still languishing in the squalor of prison
camps as P.O.W.'s at the time of mustering out three hundred thirty six men were
discharged with disability which meant anything from an he'll battle wounds to
chronic diseases how many of these men died shortly after discharge will never be
determined in on or of the manner of the fourth main infantry who got their first
taste of the army here in one hundred fifty one years ago I'm wearing
a replica of the basic uniform of
a private soldier of that time now for the first time since he was taken down when
the fourth main left camp Knox in June of eighteen sixty one their color guard from
a. Post of the American Legion Well they are the author of Raising
a civil war era of waiting. Just as probably for us as it did one hundred fifty
one years ago assisting the color guard is Mr Wrong train for it the American
Legion district commander of in our county. We.
Thank you please B.C.
You know I have to tell you the flying is just amazing
coincidence the pole where this
recreated civil war flag is why is mounted in the same hole as was the
flag that flew over Kandahar in eighteen sixty one the bowl over the whole
flagpole was rediscovered during site were this monument synchronicity of this
discovery could not be nor therefore that is the location for this play
I now have the honor of introducing our next speaker you're tired of listening to
me I'm sure. It's Gunnery Sergeant Charles Johnson U.S.
MC of ALS it he will make some remarks county's Johnson is
a survivor of the horrendous conditions in action and it shows
a reservoir in Korea there was much
from thank.
Well I would like to acknowledge some people here I would like to acknowledge me
just like they'd like your knowledge of the general boils and I'd like to
acknowledge Captain Rover and all of the officers and then you see if you were in
charge of a military if it just
a moment like that on Earth. I felt that we just wanted
a little while ago but I think you should realize they're right to be seventeen.
In the second world war and I gave Walter ridge right here.
Also on
a guess and most important all of you that perhaps I joined the Marine
Corps in July one thousand pointy seven I was just trying to Weapons
Company First Battalion Chief arranged it but we're nine hundred fifty in the time
before that I had some for the Mediterranean and I thought I was going to fly
through the Marine Corps to see if this could be we just got over
a World War The Who would ever guess that we were going to get into another one so
very shortly I was sent to Camp Pendleton in July of one nine hundred fifty and
joined How come it there but taint that Marine Regiment first Marine Division and I
said to push on Korea informed up with the first Marine Division ship them but
fifty one hundred fifty I boarded a ship I boarded
a ship one shut down for nineteen twenty and headed to sea in Port of Aden for at
sea on September fourteenth we were informed that we to attack
a small island of the enjoin crew we kept it in hold for the tides to
train show that the rest of the organization to get it sure they were the first
Marines or seventh Marines of the second and third Battalion of the fifth Marine
Regiment and we should point to their landing. The fervor the fear and
a servant led and enjoyed eating hundred dollars or fifteen shipped over we
traveled through it John and we met very little. From the North Korean Porter
because it kind of threatening not they were going to and the idea that somebody
was it was were about I guess but anyway on the evening of September fifteenth we
captured the can but we're feel that was our first objective we gained the high
ground on Hill ninety overlooking she will prove it was
a second objective and what we did we're supposed to do there is free eight hundred
American prisoners. But they moved them out the day before we got there and I just
told different story so they moved them up
a rail and they went north and I was want to go ninety the next day and I was
wounded to September. Taken by naval ship to you could be Japan I rejoined
my first division early in November and moved up to a coterie there's
a group then do you damn the west of the children rather. There's very little
very very little. Firing from the North Koreans because they were on the run
but the strange thing about the chosen road or was it was twenty five but they're
all just think of that I don't bench at all in my life
and was born twenty notch usually twenty not not korean resistance were sparks
spread mortar been told it fits and some of the Marines reached today many of the
train was bad and snow is motivated by November twenty third we were in
a firefight with the Chinese forces the First Division was cut off and the
bench was stopped and we would be surrounded by ten Chinese division
them trying to do it COULD WE JUST
an even match. At. The ten the ten Division to head
for richer divisions and they had crushed me two hundred thousand men this fall was
twelve thousand of us still an even match their mission was to capture in
annihilate the Marine division we would control police surrounded by the trying to
use fortress both of them at thirty one nine hundred fifty Major General Smith was
told to abandon all vehicles all equipment and supplies but he chose to fight his
way out which we did it from
a place again which we did through some of the most treacherous terrain we had ever
experienced many things can be said about the battle to free ourselves can be told
about the courage and determination of these young men
to Norma's to explain in
a short time we did however bring out all of out of this battle to the sea all of
our dead that we could find all the wounded that we could all the equipment
that we could run as
a result I have the casualty list here. Killed in action four hundred men
wanted next year two thousand two hundred sixty five missing in action
ninety total battle two thousand seven hundred fifty five
non battle from frostbite and other problems one thousand three hundred ninety five
. A total of foot of and one hundred fifty men unable to fight.
Also which should remain Potence what you saw today the Marine if
was with it for use kept the road open. Flew over it gave us closer port
and the Air Force flying over there dropping
a form that kept the Chinese forces away from us that much as it too it. I was
wanted to get on to some of the ships just below
a group and was flown out by it which is
a single engine airplane flies people. For you know the wonderful thing look out
here so you're always searching will want people to war we really want and I'm
proud to be here today to sort and every bit thank you.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you Kathy Johnson
a real Mori. I want next speaker is Captain Christopher Rovers
U.S.
Coast Guard was currently serving as the sector commander sect in northern New England
now certain all the New England is no small duty assignment. It covers over five
thousand miles of
a coastline including parts of the Great Lakes Welcome to the Rover had
a similar resided about five years ago in Miami I had the pleasure of. Dealing with
this highly professional gentleman on a professional basis when I received
a notice on board my ship I was having some repairs done in Miami to evacuate the
Port of Miami due to an impending hurricane I'm glad his boys were on the job as
they are today here Kathy wrote if you please. Thank
you. Thank you good evening thank you for inviting the Coast Guard to share in
the ceremony I'm honored to be here in behalf of the first Coast Guard District
commander Rear Admiral Dan able to recognize veterans from the Army Navy Air Force
link or Merchant Marine
a Coast Guard as we gather together to dedicate the mid coast you're veterans for
moral from my perspective as an active duty member of always want to veterans for
inspiration and guidance. As
a reminder of how we should conduct ourselves as we carry out our duties their
stories are my paragons they teach me how to serve looking at this moral and
listening to the accounts we've heard here tonight already I remember that although
I carry the rank of
a senior officer in the Coast Guard I follow humbly so many who have gone before
this year marks the two hundredth anniversary of the war of eight hundred twelve
the first Coast Guard District has been very involved in commemorating that piece
of history when the resolve of our young nation was tested exactly two hundred
years ago right here in Maine the crew from the revenue cutter Commodore Barry and
ninety eight ten schooner battled the British ships Maidstone spartan and plumper.
Number three to one the Americans did not win that fight in three cut them in from
the common or bury became prisoners of war the first time not the last time that
happening Coast Guard history these three men were Daniel Marshall Charles Woodward
and William Babson you probably never heard their names but their examples of the
many nearly anonymous soldiers and sailors willingly endured adversity for the sake
of our country I notice that the tiles on this memorial have been gifted by
individual citizens the set of names isn't derived from some cleanly edited
government list of veterans whose official homes are record like school simply with
within because counties the group present represented here reflects more organic
ties between military and community at
a time when our armed forces are not viewed favorably by everyone in America that
is not what I see here in Rockland the men and women who choose to honor who choose
to are with this memorial are your fathers your wives your brothers your daughters
your friends the individuals who who of our country and who are led by those here
in me. My office in South Portland but my work for frequently brings me here the ME
Coast area on my drive up as I've done so many times before I could clearly see why
so many veterans people who have traveled all over America and overseas choose to
make their homes in this part of Maine this is
a special place Rockland in particular is one of only fourteen communities in the
entire country that have earned the designation of Coast Guard city for welcoming
and supporting the many service members and their families who serve in work in
this area this new memorial is just one more example of how warmly you embrace us.
Given that this is mid-summer when in a shady spot at
a picnic table with family is the place most of us would like to be I conclude my
remarks with this aphorism that I think reflects to the collective character of
those who do but answer the call to serve in America's forces and this is the true
meaning of life is to plant trees under who she you do not expect to sit in my
place in the shade. Thank.
You very much. Your comment on the changing role of Maine's highly
regarded national guard and give us
a little bit of history I'm on it to introduce the highest ranking military officer
in this group distinguished Patriots. Means deputy as in general Brigadier General
Brant Boyle's general if you please on this thank you.
Thank you. Good evening Mr Page
distinguished guests veterans families and friends thank you very much for inviting
me to be part of the delegation of the Maine coast area Veterans Memorial I
especially think tomatoes dairy Veterans Memorial corporation for their support and
hard work over the past sixteen years to bring this beautiful memorial to fruition
for the thousands of veterans and coast area and across our great state I'm pleased
that the American Legion give to this piece of property corporation this property
has tremendous historical significance as you heard earlier the memorial is located
on the site of the eight hundred sixty one civil war gamut of the local or regiment
of May volunteers today we honor recognize the many volunteers veterans
and civic municipal entities responsible for status in the Midcoast area veterans'
memorial wall right here and often made that donors the extraordinary service and
sacrifice of our nation's military veterans undeniably nothing you know just more
as Mainers and Americans the pride we take in our veterans Main continues to have
one of the highest percentage of veterans of any state the nation such devotion to
country is the embodiment of the self sacrificing principles that mayors live by
and have been asked down from generation to generation the Midcoast area vectors
memorial wall is by all accounts
a beautifully designed and Lansing to tribute to the service and sacrifice of one
hundred thirty four thousand maters who are currently serving and those are served
their own history while the current conflicts are wanting down
a bit. The main National Guard continues to deploy soldiers and airmen in support
of the global war on terror currently the state has soldiers in Afghanistan
Kosovo Kuwait and other spots around the world there are many airmen on active duty
serving in the economy unit United States and overseas as well Additionally
the main guard must continue to stay prepared for contingencies in other parts of
the world to include recent actions in Africa and in the Pacific
causing manes versions population to increase what it is bases this wall serves as
a fitting tribute to those who so ably in courageously serve to protect and
preserve their pure church principles that are made our native nation their
greatest honor again thank you for allowing the main Army National Guard to be part
of this delegation ceremony Thank you VERY MUCH THANK YOU THANK
YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU it is now both of you and on our
in great pleasure to introduce the first lady of the state or me and loopy because
of a high regard. We're going to have for means better and this is will be
a just taken time for her busy schedule to attend this ceremony and represent our
state's chief executive officer this is the Page thank you
thank you good evening it's
a pleasure to be here tonight and thank you Deb and Mike McNeil for inviting me to
participate in this great event I really am honored to be a part of it Mike is
a Vietnam veteran and has been working on this project for sixteen years Mike thank
you for your service to our country your commitment to the memorial wall and for
the honor you have shown our servicemen and women and of fallen heroes. My driving
force. During my tenure as first lady is the mission statement from the recent
cross America which is remembering the fallen on of those that serve and teach our
children the value of freedom we live in a state with
a strong military heritage we live in
a country that's come so far in valuing our veterans as Americans we're proud of
our military and we value their courageous service we no longer live in the sad
days of the Vietnam War where veterans were told to change into their civilian
clothes to escape harassment when they returned home our veterans returned home
wearing their uniforms proudly knowing they are serving the best country in the
world the United States of America it's crucial that we say thank you to our
veterans as well as welcome home. Our servicemen and women should never be anything
but proud to wear their uniform and we as Americans need to recognize the great
sacrifices that they and their families have many have made on behalf of our great
nation. It's also with
a heavy heart that we remember that too many brave men and women have paid the
ultimate sacrifice to keep us safe here at home I'd like to take
a moment and ask the phone people to please stand and be recognized Mr John
Brainard father of Captain John Green to the third who died May twenty eighth two
thousand and twelve in Afghanistan also I'd like the Gold Star moms and their
family members to please stand we will be forever grateful for your
personal sacrifice your in our hearts and your in our prayers God bless each and
every one of you. This memorial was
a symbol of remembrance and respect for all servicemembers who have made the
ultimate sacrifice for the freedoms that we share today in cold and I just want to
say that I recently learned that Rucker Maine is officially designated Coast Guard
city I would like to an extent as
a thank you to the community of Rockland and all of the people who to participate
in this project to make this dedication
a reality THANK YOU THANK YOU
THANK YOU VERY MUCH THANK YOU
a stunning black granite tiles and digitized pictures of veterans the wall serves
as
a feeling of moving tribute to those who so ably and courageously served under the
stars and stripes to protect and preserve the cherished principles that have made
our nation the greatest on earth and while new titles are headed twice yearly
Memorial Day and Veterans Day The Midcoast area Veterans Memorial Wall is always
open and provides an opportunity for each of us to express our boundless gratitude
to those who are police service above self not just on national holidays but on
every day of every month of every year on the occasion of the official dedication
of the mid coast area Veterans Memorial Wall I convey my deep and abiding
appreciation to the many dedicated volunteers were tirelessly over the past sixteen
years to bring this data fruition this faithful and successful for example
exemplifies the very best of what it means to be
a Mainer and an American. Again on behalf of Senator Snowe I want to thank you for
having me here and I want to congratulate the Midcoast area inventions memorial
corporation and chairman Mike McNeil for all their efforts thank you very much
thank
. You very much Brian we
are on the police and our guides to center the snow bank are making is for
him the honorable Susan Collins means junior senator is sent Bobbie rattles of her
staff with
a letter expressing her feelings toward Maine's Patriots whom this monument is.
Thank you very much thank you personally to the page.
Dignitaries members of the mid coast area Veterans Committee the men and wanting of
American fighting forces that I see out here fellow veterans that Mainers over
scheduling made it impossible for Senator Collins to be here tonight she's actually
planning for her wedding she wanted me to stop by and just make
a couple of brief brief remarks on her behalf I've heard the senator say many times
that the highest calling one can answer is service to one's country she has also
said many times that the greatest sacrifice one can make is to lay down their life
in service of one's country. It is well to those here behind to remember
those who have made such
a sacrifice and that's what you have done here with this wall but this war like
anything manmade is destined to crumble and fade but what the senator is quite
certain will not crumble when feign is your commitment to remember those who have
served and those who have made the supreme sacrifice. The great general Joshua Well
Chamberlain said on the fiftieth anniversary of that battle against Berg that
although he was willing to lay down his life he was not willing to be forgotten you
have brought commitment to Chamberlain's words so on behalf of Senator Collins It's
my privilege to thank the Midcoast area Veterans Committee my Neil and
all the private and public partners that made this
a reality thank you very much and congratulations
thank you.
How I now call on my dear friend Class me old team me
and fellow Navy being the mover and shaker behind this monument and ceremony
without whose dedication and imagination and drive over these past sixteen years
none of us would have
a reason to be here ladies and gentlemen my point Neil thank
you thank you thank you all for coming I wasn't the guy that dreamed about the
people but I think it was Tim. If you look on the back of the program.
You'll see
a list of contributors and each and every time that this project gets
low one of these groups and individuals who step forward and give it at the right
time and the right place and kept everything moving my thanks to all of them
and if you look at the top of the page you'll see the board of directors and the
names of the people are present. But most importantly of the organizations
they will keep this monument moving forward and keep
a successful. Thank you for being here
it's about the veterans thank you.
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU Mike thank all who made this morning and this day
possible I'd like to once again have you recognize
the distinguished group we have sitting here in uniform we the governor's wife
took time from her schedule to come down please give them around of applause and
a thank you thank you
mean
thank you but you know
a moment we'll have the playing of Taps the end this ceremony at the conclusion of
the ceremony you are all invited to all the monument and to join us for
refreshments inside the whistle. Post Number one American Legion or
the refreshments are being provided through the generosity of the American Legion
and the emblem club of Rockland chaplain Griggs will now offer the benediction.
Maybe going to British and enjoy grant you the fullest expressions of his
friendship as you journey into the new season of your life in the name of God the
Father God the Son of God the Holy Spirit we pray and all of us people said Amen.
Thank you sir remember it's about the vets you will
get to.
Thank you all for coming and God bless you all covered. Rock rock
over the road if you're going to have the flying to the power of
a. Little. Bit of
a good job I am right and I. Will Never. Forget it ever.
Try I haven't yet you have got to have
a way to learn of
a very reverent I have. A lawyer here already have it really I don't really have
to and we all have a very. Very. Well have
a couple that you really like and. They seem to have. A little bit
of the old days they have more of
a cable or I would have told us I have. Visited illustrate that it was
a roll of toilet and if it were to happen.